Instrument for the treatment of nasal passages



y 935. I J.- c. SHOTTON 2,007,287

INSTRUMENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF NASAL PASSAGES Filed May 16, 1932 cleared condition. 23 denotes a shaft which is journaled in the Patented July 9, 1935 iff;

UNITED STATES 1 51"l :NT1] OFFER;

INSTRUMENT FOR, THE TREATMENT OF NASAL rAss Gns I John 0. Shotton, Lakewood, Ohio Application May 16, 1932, Serial No. 611,505

4 Claims. (01. 128 211) This invention relates to an instrument which turn register with the elongated openings II (see. is primarily designed for the treatment of the Figs. 3and 5). A a to I nasal passages of persons afflicted with colds or I6 denotes generally a refieptacle Which is 1164 similar ailments. I tachably applied to the connection I3. There- 5 The general purposeand object of the invenceptacle It comprises a cover wall It, a rear wall tion is to provide a simple instrument for the 18, side walls I9; and a removable ca f it for t foregoing purpose which will automatically conbottom, this cap having openings 2i ther'ethrough trol and distribute, respiratory fluid (air free from, for the passage of air. Where it is desired to or laden with, vapors or atomized medicament) medicate the air sup lied throug the recep- 10 I to the nasal passages of a patient in a manner tacle I5, this result may be obtained by inserting 10- to avoid the clogging or partial stoppage, of one into the receptacle a sponge 2? or other absorbor both of such passages, the purpose being to so entmaterial, more or less saturated with a liquid treat the nasal passages as to secure the-clearing capable of emitting vapors to mingle with the air of both passages and maintain them both in such admitted through the said openings.

I accomplish the foregoing object in and front wall of the housing 2 and in the rear-wall through the instrument shown in the accom- 0f the Casing 4. Mountedon this shaft isa valve panying drawing wherein Fig. 1 shows a side eledisk 24 having near its periphery ports 25,'prefvation of said instrument; andFigs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and erably approximately triangular in shape, the

- 6 are sectional views corresponding respectively sides of the Ports D E approximately 0 to the lines 2-2, 33, 4-4, 5-5 and 6-6'of to radii drawn from the center of the Fi 1 Qfv'bhe drawing These ports are so arranged as to register with The instrument comprises generally a pair of the elongated Op n H and I2 and with the tubes','each having at thedelivery end thereof an elongated C be l3 and the Ports being 25; applicator adapted to be inserted into the nostril 0 Space apart that t e portions of the disk 26 57 of a patient; an automatically operated mechabetween the-ports is of sufiicient width to cover nism for controlling the distribution of air or completely each chamber II, thereby cutting ofi? vapor-laden air to the said tubes in a predeterair and/or vapo -l for & ShOI't p Of mined manner and, where the air is to be meditime from each chamber I I and hence fromeach 90 cated, as by a vapor, a receptacle from which vapassa e 9.

por-laden air may be supplied to the said mech- The shaft 23 will be driven automatically by anism and thence to the said tubes. a y t m mechanism, n ordinaryjcloek-work Describing the instrument disclosed herein by mechanism bfling indicated in 1 nd 60mreference characters, I representsabaseon which prising a winding shaft Zl having a spring 28 is supported a housing 2 the right hand side or connected thereto, and shown as provided with 35 front of which is indicated at 3, the left hand or an operating knob 21 This shaft is connected back of which is closed by a valve casing 4 having by means of reducing gearing 29, 30, 3 I, 32, 33 and I front and rear walls 5 and 6, the valve casing 34, with the shaft 23, the gears 36 and SI being being also mounted on the base I. Secured to the mounted on a shaft 35; the gears 32 and 33 befront or delivery side 5 of the valve casing is a ing mounted on a shaft 35; and the gear 34 being 40 connecting member I having nipples 8 each havmounted on the shaft 23. ing a passage 9 therethrough, the rear or left 3; denotes a pair of flexible tubes which are hand ends of the passages merging at their reconnected respectively to the nipples 8 and each ceiving ends With elongated chambers I I]. These of which is shown as provided with a tapered plug 5 chambers register with correspondingly elongated 38for application to the nostril of the patient. 4

openings I I in the front or delivery side 5 of the A check valve 39 is provided in each of the tubes valve casing 4. The rear or receiving sideof the 31, the check valves being of any standard type valve casing is also provided with elongated openand adapted to! be opened by inhalation of the ings I2. I patient and to be closed by exhalation through Secured to the rear or receiving side 6 of the the nasal passages. I v 5 casing 4 is a connecting member I3 having pas- With the parts constructed and arranged as sages I4 therethrough, the front on delivery ends described, the operation will be readily underof the said passages merging with elongated stood. The spring 28 having been wound and chambers I5 corresponding in position and shape the plugs 38 inserted into the nostrils of the pato and registering with the openings I2 which in tient, air will be drawn through the receptacle 55 I 9 and through the tubes 31 into the nasal passages in the following manner (assuming that the starting position is that indicated in Fig. 4) through both of the tubes 31; then through one tube only; then through the other tube only; and then through both tubes. Owing to the close juxtaposition of the adjacent ends of the chambers l0 and I5, the patient will at all times receive air (either with or without admixture of a medicament therewith) through at least one nostril. In the drawing the spacing between the openings II is such that they are open a very slight degree when each opening 25 spans the space therebetween, but this is so slight that it can be neglected and, if desired, can be prevented by slightly narrowing the width of the openings 25.

Obviously, a spring motor may be employed which will enable the instrinnent to run for hours without rewinding; or the shaft 21 may be drivon by any suitable mechanism which will insure the rotation of the valve for as long a time as is desirable.

The advantage of this instrument is that it corrects largely, if not completely, the tendency of one nasal passage to become clogged, as it insures the distribution of air (whether medicated or not) alternately in like amounts to each of the nasal passages as well as to both nasal passages. This treatment corrects the tendency of one nasal passage to become obstructed because of the temporary freedom of obstruction of the other nasal passage, which would result in depriving the nasal passage thus obstructed from receiving its quota of air.

The instrument can be used by a patient for an indefinite time as, for instance, overnight, without interfering with freedom of breathing, as the check valves 39 prevent exhalation through the nasal passages, allowing the patient to exhale through the mouth while receiving the necessary air (medicated if desired) through the nasal passages and insuring that both of the passages will be maintained free from clogging or obstruction due to the accumulation of mucus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An instrument of the character described comprising a valve casing having pairs of openings in opposite sides thereof, the openings in one side being opposed to and registering with the openings in the other side, a receptacle having one or more openings therein for the admission of respiratory fluid and connected with the openings in one of the sides of the said casing,

conduits connected with the openings in the other side of said casing, a'rotary disk valve in said casing and having intermediatethe center and periphery thereof ports adapted to register in repeated cycles successively and simultaneously with the openings in the side walls of the said casing, and then means for rotating the said valve at a substantially uniform rate of rotation for an extended period of time.

3. An instrument of the character described, including a medicament chamber having an air inlet, means defining a pair of passages leading from said chamber to a pair of nozzles adapted to be received in the nostrils of a patient and means for opening and closing said passages in a continuous series of cycles, said means including mechanism for opening both said passages at one point in each cycle and at other points in each cycle opening them one only at a time.

4. In an instrument of the character described, a valve body, m ans defining a pair of passages leading from said valve body to a pair of nozzles adapted to be received in the nostrils of a patient and a movable valve element cooperating with said valve body, means for moving said valve element in repeated cycles: and openings through said valve element adapted to register with said passages to open them at the same time at one point in each cycle and to open said passages one at a time at other points in each cycle.

JOHN C. SHOTTON. 

